[Dynamics of fluoroquinolone agents in tear fluid--a comparison of the dynamic in tears of human and rabbit eyes]

We compared the dynamics of fluoroquinolones administered either systemically or locally, in the tears of human and rabbit eyes. The concentrations of locally administered ofloxacin (OFLX) in the human and rabbit tear fluid were similar. However, there was a difference between the norfloxacin (NFLX) concentrations in human and rabbit tear fluid measured after instillation. The NFLX concentrations in the tear fluid were significantly higher than the OFLX concentrations and they were retained longer with oral administration. On the other hand, the drug dynamics depended on the concentrations of the drug in the serum, and were better in the rabbit eyes than in the human eyes. Knowing the correlation of drug dynamics in rabbit and human eyes may supply useful information about drug dynamics in human eyes, and may be a useful index for clinical treatment.

[Thallium-201 single photon emission computed tomography in the evaluation of therapeutic response for brain tumors]

To evaluate the effectiveness of radiation and chemotherapy of malignant brain tumors, 201TlCl-SPECT (Tl-SPECT) was compared with CT and MRI. The subjects were 14 patients with malignant brain tumors; 12 malignant astrocytomas, 1 medulloblastoma and 1 malignant lymphoma. Tl-SPECT was performed before and immediately after the therapy. On the Tl-SPECT, count ratio (Tl-index) of tumor to normal brain tissue was measured. To evaluate the size of tumor, CT or MRI was performed before and immediately after the therapy, and 1-2 months after the therapy. The change of Tl-index immediately after therapy was compared with the change of the size of tumor. Though the change of Tl-index did not correlate with the change of tumoral size immediately after therapy, it correlated with the change of tumoral size 1-2 months after the therapy, i.e., it was thought that Tl-index reflected the change of tumoral size 1-2 months after the therapy. Tl-SPECT will be feasible for the evaluation of the effectiveness of the therapy for malignant brain tumors, because it reflects the effectiveness of the therapy earlier than CT or MRI.

Crystallization and analyses of crystals of various chemotypes of R-form lipopolysaccharides from Salmonella spp

Various chemotypes (Re, Rd2, Rd1P-, Rd1, RcP-, Rc, Rb3, Rb2, Rb1, and Ra) of R-form lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) of Salmonella spp. were crystallized by treatment with 70% ethanol containing 250 mM MgCl2, and crystals of the LPSs were observed electron microscopically and analyzed by electron diffraction and synchrotron X-ray diffraction. All the LPSs tested formed three-dimensional crystals showing very similar shapes; hexagonal plate, solid column, discoid, square or rectangular plate, lozenge plate and truncated hexangular or rectangular pyramid forms. Electron diffraction patterns from the hexagonal plate crystals of all these LPSs obtained by electron irradiation from the direction perpendicular to the basal plane showed that they consist of hexagonal lattices with the lattice constant of 4.62 A. The crystals of all the LPSs thus formed gave ring-like X-ray diffraction patterns because of their small sizes. The long-axis values were calculated from the X-ray diffraction patterns from crystals of all the LPSs in the low-angle region and they corresponded roughly to the length of the proposed primary chemical structures of the R cores of the LPSs. The volume occupied by a single molecule of all the LPSs were calculated from the molecular weights based on the proposed structures and the crystallographic data obtained by electron diffraction, X-ray diffraction, and density determination.

Delayed appearance of the catalytic activity by immunization of a rabbit compared with the hapten binding

Polyclonal antibodies catalyzing the hydrolysis of carbonate ester were generated by immunizing a rabbit with hapten(4-nitrophenyl phosphate II) conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin. The hydrolytic activity of IgG purified from antisera exhibited plateu one month later than the simple hapten-binding. The affinity of IgG with substrate increased even after the hapten-binding reached plateu. These suggest a strategy to generate good polyclonal catalytic antibodies and the day to fuse spleen cell with myeloma cell to get good monoclonal catalytic antibodies.

Effects of fibroblast growth factors and related peptides on food intake by rats

The effects of acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF), basic FGF (bFGF), and related peptides, such as aFGF fragments, on food and water intake were investigated. Infusion of aFGF and bFGF into the third cerebral ventricle significantly suppressed food intake. The potency of aFGF was 1.5 that of bFGF in food intake inhibition. Both FGFs also suppressed water intake. Infusion of a carboxyl-terminal fragment of aFGF, aFGF-(114-140), did not affect food intake, whereas an amino-terminal fragment of aFGF, aFGF-(1-15), was significantly inhibitory. Other amino-terminal fragments, aFGF-(1-20) and aFGF-(1-29), did not affect food intake. However, [Ala16]aFGF-(1-29), in which the cysteine residue at position 16 was replaced with alanine, significantly suppressed food intake. Infusions of functional antagonists for FGFs, anti-aFGF, anti-bFGF, and anti-aFGF-(1-15) IgGs, into the lateral hypothalamus significantly increased food intake. The results suggest that: aFGF, bFGF, and some amino-terminal peptides of aFGF participate in the central regulation of food intake; the lateral hypothalamus is involved in their feeding suppression actions; and these peptides may function as physiologically relevant substances in the adult central nervous system, other than as neurotrophic factors.

Identification of S-phase cells with PC10 antibody to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) by flow cytometric analysis

We estimated the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in HeLa S3 cells by flow cytometry with monoclonal antibody (MAb) PC10. HeLa cells were fixed with six different fixation procedures: 15-min and 30-min acetone, 15-min acetone followed by 15-min methanol (acetone/methanol), 30-min methanol, 15-min methanol followed by 15-min acetone (methanol/acetone), and a mixture of acetone and methanol. The fixed cells were applied to MAb PC10 against PCNA and then treated with FITC. With five fixation procedures except for acetone/methanol, PCNA was expressed in almost all cells with similar shapes and different FITC intensity levels on PCNA/DNA bivariate cytograms, whereas acetone/methanol fixation allowed PCNA detection in S-phase cells with a cytogram that showed a horseshoe-like pattern with a peak level at mid-S-phase. Flow cytometric dual parameter analysis of PCNA/BrdU was carried out in HeLa cells to confirm detection of PCNA in S-phase cells with acetone/methanol fixation. The population of cells stained for both parameters, i.e., S-phase cells, was obviously discriminated from that of the non-S-phase cell in PCNA/BrdU bivariate cytograms. These results strongly suggest that PCNA used with acetone/methanol fixation would be equal to BrdU as an S-phase marker.

MRI of subperiosteal hematoma of the orbit

OBJECTIVE

The MR findings of two cases of subperiosteal hematoma of the orbit are described.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We present two cases of subperiosteal hematoma of the orbit following minor head trauma, the first presenting with chronic progressive exophthalmos and the second with acute proptosis.

RESULTS

Both cases showed a well-defined biconvex mass with a curvilinear hypointense band in the superior portion of the orbit. In Case 1 chronic hematoma demonstrated high signal on both T1- and T2-weighted imaging, and in Case 2 acute hematoma displayed intermediate signal on T1-weighted imaging and high signal on T2-weighted imaging. Follow-up MRI in Case 2 demonstrated the typical signal changes from acute to subacute hematoma.

CONCLUSION

Subperiosteal hematoma has a characteristic appearance on MRI which is virtually diagnostic. In proper clinical settings MRI is the modality of choice for the detection and characterization of this hematoma.

Estimation of S-phase fraction in tumor tissue sections by immunohistochemical staining of PCNA

We describe a method for measuring the size of the S-phase fraction in human tumor tissue sections using an antibody to PCNA (PC10). Although treatment with Triton X-100 before fixation extracted a large amount of PCNA from the cells even in frozen tissue sections, PCNA remained exclusively in S-phase cells. Immunohistochemical staining of PCNA after the detergent treatment allowed estimation of the S-phase fraction in solid tumors. The validity of the method was directly proven by double staining of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and PCNA in HeLa cells. The PCNA-positive cells were identical with BrdUrd-positive cells after the detergent treatment. In contrast, almost all HeLa cells in the exponentially growing phase were positive for PC10 without treatment with Triton X-100.

Burkitt type leukaemia associated with multiple myeloma

We describe a 77-year-old man with multiple myeloma (MM) who developed Burkitt type leukaemia (BTL) 16 months after the initial diagnosis of MM. MM was positive for CD10 with immunoglobulin (Ig) kappa, kappa Bence Jones protein (BJP) and a normal karyotype. BTL was positive for CD10, CD19, CD20 and HLA-DR with Ig mu and lambda, lambda BJP and a clonal abnormal karyotype of 46,XY,-13, t(8;14)(q24;q32),11q+,14q+, +mar. The patient died 9 d after diagnosis of BTL despite treatment with multiple agents. This is, to our knowledge, the first such case to be reported.

A cephalometric and electromyographic study of upper airway structures in the upright and supine positions

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by recurrent upper airway obstruction during sleep, usually in the supine position. To investigate the relationship between upper airway size and genioglossus (GG) muscle activity, upright and supine cephalograms were obtained in 20 OSA patients and 10 symptom-free control subjects. Tongue electromyographic (EMG) recordings were obtained with surface electrodes, and pressure transducers were placed in the 10 symptom-free controls. The tongue cross-sectional area increased 4.3% (p < 0.05), and the oropharyngeal area decreased 36.5% (p < 0.01) when the OSA patients changed their body position from upright to supine. No changes were observed in the tongue area, but soft palate thickness increased (p < 0.01) when the control subjects changed from the upright to the supine position. Furthermore, the oropharyngeal cross-sectional area decreased 28.8% (p < 0.01) despite a 34% increase (p < 0.05) in resting GG EMG activity. Posterior tongue pressure increased 17% (p < 0.05) with the change from upright to supine. On the basis of these findings, we propose that body posture has a substantial effect on upper airway structure and muscle activity. This postural effect should be taken into account when assessing upper airway size in the erect posture (conventional cephalography) and in the supine position (computed tomography). The vertical and anteroposterior position of the tongue and its relationship to airway size may be more important than soft palate size in the pathogenesis of OSA.

Concentrations of alpha-tocopherol and its quinone derivative in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with vascular dementia of the Binswanger type and Alzheimer type dementia

We determined the concentrations of alpha-tocopherol (alpha-TOH) and alpha-tocopherol quinone(alpha-TQ), an oxidized derivative of alpha-TOH, in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with Alzheimer type dementia (ATD) and those with vascular dementia of the Binswanger type (VDBT). Compared with results for the controls, the VDBT patients had unaltered concentrations of alpha-TOH, but a statistically significant, 3.6-fold increase of alpha-TQ (P < 0.01) which was significantly correlated with decreases in the Mini-Mental State Examination scores (P < 0.05). In contrast, ATD patients had significantly decreased concentrations of alpha-TOH (P < 0.01), but had unaltered concentrations of alpha-TQ. These results suggest that there is greater oxidation of alpha-TOH to alpha-TQ in VDBT brain, but are inconclusive about the occurrence of peroxidation in ATD brains.

Expression cloning of a GM3-specific alpha-2,8-sialyltransferase (GD3 synthase)

A cDNA encoding a GM3-specific alpha-2,8-sialyltransferase (GD3 synthase) was obtained from an expression cDNA library of human melanoma cell line WM266-4 by enrichment of Namalwa KJM-1 cells highly expressing GD3 using an anti-GD3 antibody and a fluorescence-activated cell sorter. Selection of B-cell line Namalwa cells expressing transfected cDNAs in the presence of anti-GD3 monoclonal antibody KM641 gave a cDNA (pAMo-GD3) encoding a protein with a type II transmembrane topology as found for mammalian glycosyltransferases. The following evidence confirms that the cDNA encodes an alpha-2,8-sialyltransferase, which specifically converts GM3 to GD3. (i) Transfection of pAMo-GD3 into Namalwa KJM-1 cells leads to the appearance of GD3 and a GD3 synthase activity. (ii) Northern blot analysis revealed a correlation between the expression of this gene and GD3 in several cell lines. (iii) The putative COOH-terminal active domain of this cloned enzyme fused with protein A has been purified with IgG-Sepharose beads and has been shown to possess GD3-synthesizing activity, excluding the possibility that the cloned cDNA encodes a transacting factor inducing a GD3 synthase. The deduced primary sequence also contains the "sialyl motif" conserved among all the sialyltransferases cloned to date. The polymerase chain reaction analysis reveals that this gene is located on chromosome 12.

[An educational method of cross-sectional anatomy combined with gross-anatomic practice]

This paper proposes a method to introduce cross-sectional anatomy to the dissection programs of gross anatomy. The lecture emphasizes presenting to students useful markers of structures to understand the cross-sectional plane. The practice is to begin by preparing en bloc-resected organs. Eight planes were sliced by students as follows: the first plane through the arch of the aorta 2-3 cm below its upper border, the second through the bifurcation of the trachea and the pulmonary trunk, the third through the origin of the pulmonary trunk, the fourth through the middle of the right ventricle, the fifth through the liver 2-3 cm below its upper surface, the sixth through the portal area, the seventh through the gallbladder, the eight through the right renal hilus. The students sketched slices, identified structures with knowledge they acquired from the dissection, compared them with clinical CT and presented their observations to other students. The introduction of the cross-sectional anatomy into practice is one of multiple accesses available in the study of gross anatomy which are necessary for students to obtain a better understanding of the human structure and to increase their knowledge applicable to medicine.

Ultrastructural changes in hepatocytes, sinusoidal endothelial cells and macrophages in hypothermic preservation of the rat liver with University of Wisconsin solution

To identify subtle changes which might lead to liver failure after liver transplantation, rat livers stored at 4 degrees C in University of Wisconsin solution for 8, 16, 24, and 32 h were examined by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, cellular matrix maceration and freeze fracture for ultrastructural analysis. Endothelial cells exhibited aggregation of intramembrane particles (IMPs) at 8 h and produced tiny blebs accompanied by marked development of pits. As deterioration advanced, endothelial cells exposed the perisinusoidal faces of hepatocytes directly to the lumen with destruction of sieve plates. They then degraded with loss of IMPs. Macrophages followed a similar deterioration process to endothelial cells. Membranes of hepatocytes did not demonstrate aggregations of IMPs for 32 h. Rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) lost ribosomes and smooth ER (sER) increased in amount and dilated in an irregular form. Autophagosomes appeared in the cytoplasm, engulfed cytoplasmic matrix containing intracellular organelles and became autophagic vacuoles. At 32 h bile canaliculi were filled with detached vesicles. This may be one of the causes of preservation related bile duct complications after liver transplantation.

[Effect of Oren-gedoku-to on changes in hexobarbital-induced sleeping time in chlorpromazine-treated mice]

The effects of Oren-gedoku-to on the hypnotic duration induced by hexobarbital, and on the change of this duration in chlorpromazine-treated mice were investigated. Single dose of Oren-gedoku-to (1.0 or 2.0 g/kg, p.o.) or chlorpromazine (10 mg/kg, p.o.) prolonged the hexobarbital hypnosis time. And the simultaneous dose of chlorpromazine (6.0 mg/kg, p.o.) and Orengedoku-to (1.0 g/kg, p.o.) indicated the equal effect for the administration of chlorpromazine (10.0 mg/kg, p.o.) alone. Although the mechanism of the action remains to be unknown, administration of Oren-gedoku-to in combination with chlorpromazine seems to be useful from the standpoint of alleviation of the side-effects caused by less dose.

Production of hematinic acid by the reaction of hemoglobin with phenylhydrazine: evidence for the oxidative cleavage of heme

Incubation of hemoglobin (Hb, 2 mM as heme) with phenylhydrazine (PH, 5-20 mM) under aerobic conditions produced hematinic acid (HA), one of the oxidatively degraded pyrroles derived from protoporphyrin in Hb. However, incubation with H2O2 resulted in a much lower production of HA. HA was determined by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) after derivatization to the methyl ester. HA produced by PH was dependent on PH concentration and on incubation time. The maximal yield of HA was 18.8 x 10(-4)% in the reaction with 20 mM of PH for 2 h. Degraded compounds (not identified) other than HA derived from porphyrin were observed on TLC of the mixture after the reaction. Oxidation of ferrous ion and the globin of Hb by PH, which causes alternation of Hb, have been made on the mechanism responsible for the acquisition of the hemolytic activity of PH. Our findings regarding HA production reveal that the porphyrin of Hb is added to the sites oxidized. This is discussed in relation to the hemolysis.

Expression cloning of a novel alpha 1,3-fucosyltransferase that is involved in biosynthesis of the sialyl Lewis x carbohydrate determinants in leukocytes

The sialyl Lewis x (NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-4(Fuc alpha 1-3)Glc-NAc) determinants serve as ligands in the selectin-mediated adhesion of leukocytes to activated endothelium or platelets. In our efforts to identify glycosyltransferases involved in the biosynthesis of those ligands, we achieved expression cloning of a novel human alpha 1,3-fucosyltransferase termed Fuc-TVII from a THP-1 cDNA library by enrichment of the Namalwa cells highly expressing that determinant with a fluorescence-activated cell sorter. Expression of the COOH-terminal catalytic domain of Fuc-TVII showed an alpha 1,3-fucosyltransferase activity for a type II oligosaccharide with a terminal alpha 2,3-linked sialic acid among various acceptors, consistent with that in vivo acceptor specificity. Alignment of the primary sequences of five alpha 1,3-fucosyltransferases and assignment of the chromosomal location of Fuc-TVII gene, together with that acceptor specificity, indicate that Fuc-TVII consists of a unique class of the alpha 1,3-fucosyltransferase family. Determination of the expression levels of these alpha 1,3-fucosyltransferases in various cells revealed that both Fuc-TVII and a myeloid fucosyltransferase Fuc-TIV were significantly expressed in myeloid lineage cells. Fuc-TVII-transfected Namalwa cells exhibited significant binding to E-selectin in contrast to little binding of the Fuc-TIV-transfected cells. These results suggest that Fuc-TVII may participate in the biosynthesis of the selectin ligands.

Dissecting aneurysm in the proximal region of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery presenting as Wallenberg's syndrome--case report

A 29-year-old female presented with an unusual case of Wallenberg's syndrome due to a dissecting aneurysm of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) manifesting as a sensation of heaviness in the occipital region and vertigo. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed infarction of the lateral aspect of the medulla oblongata. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) revealed a spindle-shaped dilatation of irregular contour in the proximal portion of the left PICA. Pooling of contrast medium was noted in the venous phase but not double lumen sign. A suboccipital craniectomy confirmed these findings macroscopically. Blood flow meter monitoring before and after proximal clipping of the diseased vessel ensured the safety of the procedure. Follow-up DSA 3 years after surgery revealed no evidence of aneurysm recurrence.

[Clinical significance of DNA ploidy heterogeneity in early gastric cancers]

To evaluate the clinical significance of DNA ploidy heterogeneity (DH), four or more fresh tissue specimens were obtained from a tumor in 68 resected early gastric cancers. DNA content was measured by flow cytometry and the presence of DH was prospectively investigated. The incidence of DH correlated to invasion depth (m < sm), lymph vessel invasion (negative < positive) and tumor size (10 mm or less in diameter < more than 10). When the criteria of indication for minimum surgery were determined as the intramucosal cancer without n, ly and v factor, 85% of contraindication cases demonstrated DH. These results indicate that DH is a useful marker of tumor progression in early gastric cancer and will be an aid for determining indications for minimum resection.

[Flow cytometric analysis of DNA ploidy in intramucosal gastric carcinoma]

In order to investigate whether or not DNA ploidy was altered in intramucosal gastric carcinomas, nuclear DNA content of biopsy specimen was measured using flow cytometry in 38 intramucosal carcinomas. DNA aneuploidy was detected in 27 of 38 lesions (71.1%), and noted more frequently in differentiated carcinomas than in undifferentiated ones (83.0% vs. 20.0%, p < 0.01). There was no significant relationship between the frequency of DNA aneuploidy and macroscopical type or tumor size. DNA aneuploidy was even found in two of three minute carcinomas (5 mm or less in diameter). DNA indices showed 1.2 or lower values in 40% of the lesions with DNA aneuploidy. The average value of DNA index was significantly larger in depressed type than in elevated type (p < 0.01). In conclusion, DNA ploidy is altered in most differentiated intramucosal carcinomas. A high resolution method is essential for accurate determination of DNA ploidy in intramucosal carcinomas, especially elevated ones.

[Flow cytometric DNA analysis of colorectal carcinoma in adenoma]

We evaluated the DNA ploidy in 23 lesions of colorectal carcinoma in adenoma (CIA) and 90 adenomas without carcinomas by flow cytometry using fresh samples. DNA ploidy of carcinoma and adenoma components were assessed, respectively, with 17 paraffin-embedded samples of CIAs. The incidence of DNA aneuploidy (AP) was significantly higher in CIAs than in adenomas (47.8% vs. 12.2%, p < 0.01). Even in adenoma components of CIAs, AP tended to be found more frequent than in adenomas (41.2% vs. 12.2%). The incidence of AP in adenoma components was similar to that in carcinoma components (35.3%) in CIAs. In conclusion, DNA aneuploidy in adenomas may be a marker of malignant potential.

Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides for IL-2, c-myc and transferrin receptor synchronize mitogen-activated lymphocytes in the G1 phase

In order to clarify the role and interrelationship of c-myc, interleukin-2 (IL-2), and transferrin receptor (TfR) expressions on PHA-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation, we examined the effects of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides directed against c-myc, TfR, and IL-2 mRNAs on DNA synthesis and cell-cycle phase. Exposure of PHA-stimulated lymphocytes to each antisense oligomer resulted in approximately 75-80% inhibition of DNA synthesis. TfR expression was not inhibited in PHA-stimulated lymphocytes by c-myc or IL-2 antisense oligonucleotides, suggesting that the expression of c-myc, TfR, and of IL-2 is regulated by an independent mechanism. All three antisense oligonucleotides for c-myc, TfR and IL-2 synchronized mitogen-activated lymphocytes to the G1 phase as assessed by morphologic blast formation and cell-cycle phase analysis.